Monday, April 26, 2010
DO DRIVE THROUGH PHARMACY WINDOWS HURT OR HELP?
The drive through window has always been seen as an expedient way obtain our prescriptions without the hassle of parking our cars and going into the pharmacy. But perhaps we should rethink this convenience.
A survey was taken in 2008 to evaluate what effects layout and design, the presence of a drive-through window and automated dispensing had on retail pharmacies. Sheryl Szeinback, a professor of pharmacy practice and administration at Ohio University, conducted the survey of 429 U.S. pharmacists working at traditional chain and independently owned drug stores. According to that survey, the main source of irritation to pharmacists seems to be the distractions and interruptions associated with the drive-through window. The concern is that those interruptions can result in processing delays, reduced efficiency and even dispensing errors. “Maybe we ought to stop and consider: ‘Am I likely to get the same level of service from the drive-through as I am actually interacting face-to-face with a health-care professional?” (Sheryl Szeinback, Science Daily, 1/8/2008). In addition, in 2008, there was a growth rate of only 1.8 per cent in the sale of ethical pharmaceutical drugs and insulin. In 2009, the growth rate was 5.1 percent through retail and non-retail channels. We can only conclude that since Prof. Szeinback’s survey, a mere two years ago, the traffic at the drive-through pharmacy window has increased dramatically. Maybe we should take a second look at our scripts before we drive away from the window.
Read Sheryl Szeinback's entire article, Pharmacists Believe Drive-through Windows Contribute to Delays, Errors, (Science Daily, 1/8/2008)
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Tuesday, March 23, 2010
PHARMACEUTICAL STRATEGIES PRESENTS…
WHERE ARE STACY LONDON AND CLINTON KELLY WHEN YOU NEED THEM OR ….
“WHAT NOT TO WEAR” - ON AN INTERVIEW
Unfortunately, Stacy London and Clinton Kelly from TLC’s What Not to Wear weren’t around to help out with this article on the do’s and don’ts of dressing for an interview. But, don’t you sometimes wish someone like them were around to say, “Here, wear this,it looks great on you and it’s perfect for that first impression!” Instead, most of us have to rely on our own instincts to decide what looks right for that all important interview. Pharmacists, nurses and other allied health professionals sometimes have a harder time dressing for an interview simply because most of their time is spent in a lab coat or scrubs. Working at a staffing agency that specializes in health care health professionals, you see a lot candidates. Let me stress up front that scrubs and labs coats are not the best choice for any health care interview. Health care workers are the most sought after population in the workforce today and because they work so closely with the public, it is imperative for them to present themselves as neat, clear thinking, and above all, professional. We don't need Stacy or Clinton to tell us this means clean, properly fitting clothes - for men, clean suits with freshly laundered shirts, shined shoes and neatly trimmed hair and nails. For women - a clean suit (either trousers or skirts), blouses that are not too low or cut too high, skip the perfume (people have allergies), proper shoes - no white work shoes, clogs, spikes or open toes and easy on the make-up, nails and hair. Another tip for all candidates - cover your tattoos and take out any piercings that aren’t in your ears - they may be innocent but can portray a less than professional look on an interview.
So, who needs a famous TV personality to tell you how to dress for success - let them go to the next guy - you're dressed for success!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Good-Bye Great-Grandpa Druggist - Hello New Opportunities!
Let’s face it, Great -Grandpa Druggist had it made. He had the luxury of dispensing pills for Aunt Sadie’s sciatica or cold remedies for little Jimmy’s runny nose while monitoring the soda fountain in his spare time. What was that saying? You’ve come a long way, Baby! Today, the role of the traditional retail pharmacist would be unrecognizable to Great-Grandpa Druggist. The world of today’s pharmacist’s is fast paced and competitive with many options for movement - most that weren’t open to your predecessors.
Progress brings change and due to the ever evolving advances in health care, a variety of occupational avenues have opened for today’s pharmacist. Career opportunities in nuclear medicine, ambulatory, clinical, government, home care, hospital and industrial are just some of the areas open to today’s pharmacist. You can use your expertise as a pharmacist to advance your career in research, management, marketing, sales, quality control - within any of the above options and all under the hood of your pharmacist license. Though some professions might require extra training, it’s well worth the effort.
When you are ready for a change, give us a call at 866-352-3337 and let our seasoned recruiters find the right position for you.
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Monday, February 8, 2010
A “HEART HEALTHY” KITCHEN MAKEOVER
Just by shopping the perimeter and skipping the main aisles of your local supermarket, you can actually reduce your chances of heart disease! Who knew? Studies show that most unhealthy, processed food is found in the main aisles of a supermarket. By skipping those aisles and keeping yourself on the outskirts of the market where most all fresh fruits, vegetables, poultry, fish and dairy are housed actually can help make your kitchen “heart healthy”. Of course, just this one step isn’t going to do the trick, but combined with good common sense eating and exercise, it could actually slash your risk for heart disease.
Simple changes in life style can reap big rewards when it comes to having a healthy heart. Though other factors come into play that are out of our control, such as the innate ability to produce “bad” LDL cholesterol or some inherited heart conditions, there are some very important factors that we do have control over, such as what we eat, how much we eat and trying to work in a daily exercise routine and being diligent in taking your cholesterol or blood pressure medications. Taking the stairs instead of an elevator, parking your car a little further away at the mall, walking the mall, a brisk 20 minute daily walk - all small things that add up to big health profits. It’s heart month - so give yourself and your family the best Valentine ever! Next time you shop, take a walk around the perimeter of your local supermarket and give your kitchen a heart healthy makeover!
Pharmaceutical Strategies is a leader in allied health staffing, please be sure to give us a call if you are a pharmacist, allied health worker or a nurse and are looking for a change or to add to your resume. If you are a business or a hospital in need of top-notched, prescreened allied health, pharmacy or nursing professionals, it would be our pleasure to fill those staffing needs. Call us today! 866-352-3337
Make Over Your Kitchen for a Healthy Heart WebMD January 7, 2010 is an excellent article on how to keep your heart and your kitchen "heart healthy."
Friday, January 29, 2010
TEMP and TEMP TO PERM - WHY USING AN AGENCY IS A WIN - WIN SITUATION
We go to a car dealership to buy a car because we wouldn’t think of making that large an investment without test driving first. We date because we wouldn’t think of marrying before we get to know the person we hope to spend many years with. Any long term investment, whether time, money, or relationships is worth evaluating first. That same common sense approach also applies to companies hiring new, part-time or permanent employees. Potential candidates make the same mistake, frequently passing up a great job that is offered temp to perm because they are looking to be hired permanently right away. The benefits on both ends are substantial and there are many reasons, not only to companies, but everyone out there looking for a job, should consider these alternative options to offering or accepting a permanent position.
Benefits to the employer:
Try before you buy:
Let’s face it. It happens in the best of companies. A candidate interviews in spectacular fashion and their resume looks like they are kin to Einstein, but when they actually try to do the job, it turns out they were just great interviewers. By using an agency and hiring on a temp or temp to perm basis, a business gets a prescreened applicant, who in the very least, has a better potential for filling a permanent need than someone the company is interviewing cold. In many situations, such as healthcare workers, it’s crucial to have the candidates prescreened for drug testing, licensing and background checks prior to an interview.
When a company hires on a permanent basis up front - what you see is what you get. The new hire may be able to do the job, but their personality may grate on anyone who ventures within fifty feet of them. At that point, you’re pretty much stuck. Using an agency lets the company “off the hook” with the candidate that is truly not a good fit and avoids the paperwork and the usual three time warning system needed to replace them. When using an agency, a call is made to the staffing agency and the candidate is replaced at no cost to the company.
In this tough economy, tomorrow is promised to no one. In short, using an agency insures that if your company should have to downsize, your “numbers” are not affected. In addition, a huge cost savings on the administrative end for the costs associated with processing payrolls and benefits.
Insurance is another area where companies benefit by using an agency. The agency often offers health benefits to it’s candidates because, until the candidate is hired by the company permanently, they are employees of the staffing agency.
Benefits to the employee:
Flexibility:
A temp to perm position is the perfect way to go if you are just entering or re-entering the job market. It allows you some flexibility in case the job isn’t a good fit or if you find the commute is too long or the work not what you expected. Temping through an agency is a great way to try out different jobs within your scope of career goals. For instance, you may be a pharmacist who starts out temping in a retail position, then discover that you would much rather be in a hospital, research or long term care setting. If you are qualified, those options are open to you to try before making a final decision on the right career path. Using an agency that has their pulse on your job market and the contacts you need, is key to success in finding the right position. It eliminates combing the papers or being one of countless thousands applying for the same job online. In addition, staffing agencies generally offer a higher rate of pay to start.
Just as the company saves money on the insurance side, so does the candidate. Staffing firms that do a lot of temp to perm hiring often can also take the pressure off finding and paying for your own health insurance while looking for the a position that’s the right fit. Most staffing firms offer health insurance if you are working on a full time, long term basis, because while you’re temping, you’re their long term employee until you are hired by the potential company.
So, using an agency is just good sound business. Whether you’re a client looking to fill a part-time, full-time, long-term or permanent need, a staffing agency can be your best bet in finding the right candidate. If you're a candidate it's the best "try before you buy" offer in town!
Are you a pharmacist, pharmacy tech, allied health worker or nurse looking to make a change or just entering the job market? Give us a call! Toll free 866-352-3337 or visit us on the web at www.pharmaceuticalstrategies.com and take a look at our current job offerings.
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Benefits to the employer:
Try before you buy:
Let’s face it. It happens in the best of companies. A candidate interviews in spectacular fashion and their resume looks like they are kin to Einstein, but when they actually try to do the job, it turns out they were just great interviewers. By using an agency and hiring on a temp or temp to perm basis, a business gets a prescreened applicant, who in the very least, has a better potential for filling a permanent need than someone the company is interviewing cold. In many situations, such as healthcare workers, it’s crucial to have the candidates prescreened for drug testing, licensing and background checks prior to an interview.
When a company hires on a permanent basis up front - what you see is what you get. The new hire may be able to do the job, but their personality may grate on anyone who ventures within fifty feet of them. At that point, you’re pretty much stuck. Using an agency lets the company “off the hook” with the candidate that is truly not a good fit and avoids the paperwork and the usual three time warning system needed to replace them. When using an agency, a call is made to the staffing agency and the candidate is replaced at no cost to the company.
In this tough economy, tomorrow is promised to no one. In short, using an agency insures that if your company should have to downsize, your “numbers” are not affected. In addition, a huge cost savings on the administrative end for the costs associated with processing payrolls and benefits.
Insurance is another area where companies benefit by using an agency. The agency often offers health benefits to it’s candidates because, until the candidate is hired by the company permanently, they are employees of the staffing agency.
Benefits to the employee:
Flexibility:
A temp to perm position is the perfect way to go if you are just entering or re-entering the job market. It allows you some flexibility in case the job isn’t a good fit or if you find the commute is too long or the work not what you expected. Temping through an agency is a great way to try out different jobs within your scope of career goals. For instance, you may be a pharmacist who starts out temping in a retail position, then discover that you would much rather be in a hospital, research or long term care setting. If you are qualified, those options are open to you to try before making a final decision on the right career path. Using an agency that has their pulse on your job market and the contacts you need, is key to success in finding the right position. It eliminates combing the papers or being one of countless thousands applying for the same job online. In addition, staffing agencies generally offer a higher rate of pay to start.
Just as the company saves money on the insurance side, so does the candidate. Staffing firms that do a lot of temp to perm hiring often can also take the pressure off finding and paying for your own health insurance while looking for the a position that’s the right fit. Most staffing firms offer health insurance if you are working on a full time, long term basis, because while you’re temping, you’re their long term employee until you are hired by the potential company.
So, using an agency is just good sound business. Whether you’re a client looking to fill a part-time, full-time, long-term or permanent need, a staffing agency can be your best bet in finding the right candidate. If you're a candidate it's the best "try before you buy" offer in town!
Are you a pharmacist, pharmacy tech, allied health worker or nurse looking to make a change or just entering the job market? Give us a call! Toll free 866-352-3337 or visit us on the web at www.pharmaceuticalstrategies.com and take a look at our current job offerings.
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
RESPECT - It’s Give and Take in the Workplace!
Respect in the workplace is key to any successful operation, but is particularly crucial in pharmacy and allied health positions. Anytime you deal with the health and well being of others, a stress level emerges and is ever present, lurking in the back of your head like a phantom. If I make a mistake, who will suffer? If I become distracted, will I still be able to stay on track with what I was doing? In a normal job, these questions would be bothersome but not potentially dangerous. Not so in the pharmacy or allied health fields. A mistake in a prescription could be lethal, a mistake in how a therapist manipulates a leg, an arm or a spine could result in a large setback of the patients’ recovery. The results of a nurse delivering the wrong meds to a patient could be devastating. So, it’s particularly imperative no additional stress be present and that mutual respect is code in these workplaces. There is a great article from Ezine Articles called 5 Things You Can Do to Advocate Mutual Respect in the Workplace or at Home. The article brings out some valid points. The very word “mutual” in the title indicates a back and forth dance of not stepping on someone else’s mental toes. The article suggests using the five tips of Time, Patience, Listening, Laughing and Honesty. Using these five items should be used as the foundation to having and maintaining respect in the workplace. Take the time to get to know a person, you may see things from their point of view. Be patient, don’t just go through the motions, be sincere in your feelings. Even if you don’t agree, listen to what your employer, employee or colleague is saying and ask questions - you may change your perspective. In some cases, laughter truly is the best medicine. Find a common bond to talk and laugh about with a co-worker you are having a hard time getting along with. Lastly, you have to honest in your approach and work at it daily.
Because everyone views respect in a different way, it’s not always easy to find the right rhythm that is tune with your co-workers. Unfortunately, like family, you can’t always pick your co-workers, but when it comes to respect in the workplace, a little goes a very long way. Deborah Norville’s new book *The Power of Respect, brings some pertinent issues regarding workplace respect to the surface, “Employers who don’t show respect risk losing their best workers….Showing respect can make family members feel closer to us…employees and colleagues work harder for us…” It’s true, the more valued an employee feels, the harder they will work and the stronger the bond between company and employee becomes. In a pharmacy or allied health workplace, where long hours and hard work are the norm, specific words of encouragement from a superior about something that an employee excels at, a pat on the back or offer to lend a hand from a colleague lightens the load and makes for a much happier atmosphere for employers, employees and their patients.
To read the entire article Ezine Articles, “5 Things You Can Do to Advocate Mutual Respect in the Workplace or at Home.
*The Power of Respect: Benefit from the Most Forgotten Element of Success, Deborah Norville, Thomas Nelson Press
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Because everyone views respect in a different way, it’s not always easy to find the right rhythm that is tune with your co-workers. Unfortunately, like family, you can’t always pick your co-workers, but when it comes to respect in the workplace, a little goes a very long way. Deborah Norville’s new book *The Power of Respect, brings some pertinent issues regarding workplace respect to the surface, “Employers who don’t show respect risk losing their best workers….Showing respect can make family members feel closer to us…employees and colleagues work harder for us…” It’s true, the more valued an employee feels, the harder they will work and the stronger the bond between company and employee becomes. In a pharmacy or allied health workplace, where long hours and hard work are the norm, specific words of encouragement from a superior about something that an employee excels at, a pat on the back or offer to lend a hand from a colleague lightens the load and makes for a much happier atmosphere for employers, employees and their patients.
To read the entire article Ezine Articles, “5 Things You Can Do to Advocate Mutual Respect in the Workplace or at Home.
*The Power of Respect: Benefit from the Most Forgotten Element of Success, Deborah Norville, Thomas Nelson Press
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Wednesday, January 6, 2010
How Big A Problem is Brandjacking to Big Pharma?
According to MarkMonitor, a global leader in enterprise branding protection, “Brandjacking is the criminal act of hijacking strong brands for profit.”
In the not too distant past, Brandjacking was a word known only to an elite few marketing executives - today it’s one of the leading buzzwords in Big Pharma. “Of the 2,930 online pharmacies found by MarkMonitor, only four are certified by the United States to sell prescription drugs,” (George Koroneos, PharmExec.com, Pharma-Targeted Brandjacking on the Rise.) These are very disturbing numbers when you think about the amount of people throughout the world now turning to Web based pharmacies.
British Columbia 2006 - a middle aged woman, Marcia Bergeron, buys the sleeping pill Ambien from an online pharmacy. In 2007, according to a local coroners report, Ms. Bergeron formally becomes the first person to die from Web purchased contaminated drugs. Ms. Bergeron died from ingesting a generic form of the sleeping pill Ambien she had purchased from an Eastern European online pharmacy. She died from heart arrhythmia - her liver polluted with fatal doses of metal such as aluminum and arsenic.
There is little doubt the economy has led people to the Web as an alternative to paying for otherwise expensive medications. However, much caution should be used before purchasing any medication online. “Though her death [Marcia Bergeron] it seems, was an unusual case. The appalling quality of the drugs that killed her wasn’t.” (Andy Greenberg, Brandjacking Big Pharma, Forbes.com) Not realizing the risks, consumers continue to purchase online drugs from fraudulent companies whose main interest seems to be money and not the safety of the consumer. Unfortunately, most consumers assume that all online medications are made under the same strict guidelines the FDA imposes on U.S. drug manufacturers. The truth is, a more than comfortable amount of online pharmacies manufacture or import drugs from countries that operate far outside the boundaries of U.S. standards. These fraudulent companies blatantly highjack brand names and logos from legitimate companies in an attempt to easily fool the public and market them right along with the lawful online companies. Sadly, we have no way of knowing who they are.
There are some guidelines the consumer should consider before purchasing medication online. First, they should check the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP) website www.nabp.net/ip.asp for the latest in approved drug websites and all the news connected with online drug safety. Also, one of the best pipelines for solid advice regarding drugs is the neighborhood pharmacist. Pharmacists form a relationship with their patients and if properly utilized, the information they possess can and does save lives.
Another great article on Brandjacking is in Pharmaceutical Processing’s January 2009, e-newsletter titled Big Pharma Facing Brandjacking Battle., Frederick Felman, Chief Marketing Officer, MarkMonitor
Visit Pharmaceutical Strategies website for all your pharmacy and allied health placement needs. We Make Pharmacy Work!
In the not too distant past, Brandjacking was a word known only to an elite few marketing executives - today it’s one of the leading buzzwords in Big Pharma. “Of the 2,930 online pharmacies found by MarkMonitor, only four are certified by the United States to sell prescription drugs,” (George Koroneos, PharmExec.com, Pharma-Targeted Brandjacking on the Rise.) These are very disturbing numbers when you think about the amount of people throughout the world now turning to Web based pharmacies.
British Columbia 2006 - a middle aged woman, Marcia Bergeron, buys the sleeping pill Ambien from an online pharmacy. In 2007, according to a local coroners report, Ms. Bergeron formally becomes the first person to die from Web purchased contaminated drugs. Ms. Bergeron died from ingesting a generic form of the sleeping pill Ambien she had purchased from an Eastern European online pharmacy. She died from heart arrhythmia - her liver polluted with fatal doses of metal such as aluminum and arsenic.
There is little doubt the economy has led people to the Web as an alternative to paying for otherwise expensive medications. However, much caution should be used before purchasing any medication online. “Though her death [Marcia Bergeron] it seems, was an unusual case. The appalling quality of the drugs that killed her wasn’t.” (Andy Greenberg, Brandjacking Big Pharma, Forbes.com) Not realizing the risks, consumers continue to purchase online drugs from fraudulent companies whose main interest seems to be money and not the safety of the consumer. Unfortunately, most consumers assume that all online medications are made under the same strict guidelines the FDA imposes on U.S. drug manufacturers. The truth is, a more than comfortable amount of online pharmacies manufacture or import drugs from countries that operate far outside the boundaries of U.S. standards. These fraudulent companies blatantly highjack brand names and logos from legitimate companies in an attempt to easily fool the public and market them right along with the lawful online companies. Sadly, we have no way of knowing who they are.
There are some guidelines the consumer should consider before purchasing medication online. First, they should check the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP) website www.nabp.net/ip.asp for the latest in approved drug websites and all the news connected with online drug safety. Also, one of the best pipelines for solid advice regarding drugs is the neighborhood pharmacist. Pharmacists form a relationship with their patients and if properly utilized, the information they possess can and does save lives.
Another great article on Brandjacking is in Pharmaceutical Processing’s January 2009, e-newsletter titled Big Pharma Facing Brandjacking Battle., Frederick Felman, Chief Marketing Officer, MarkMonitor
Visit Pharmaceutical Strategies website for all your pharmacy and allied health placement needs. We Make Pharmacy Work!
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